Books and Manuscripts · Los 3252
Merian, M.S. Dissertation sur la géneration et les transformations des insectes de Surinam: Dans laquelle on traite des vers et des chenilles de Surinam (...) On y parle aussi des crapaux, lezards, serpens, aragnees. French transl. by J. Rousset de Missy.
The Hague, P. Gosse, 1726, (9)p., first French ed., 72 CONTEMPORARY HANDCOL. plates by J. MULDER, P. SLUYTER and D. STOPENDAAL, 2 ident. HANDCOL. engr. title-vignettes, bound by bindery HULST VAN KEULEN in sl. later richly gilt panelled marbled calf w. central ornament on both covers, surrounded by a double gilt inner border w. gilt floral corner pieces and a single gilt floral border around sides, also w. gilt floral corner pieces, a richly gilt spine w. burgundy mor. letterpiece, a.e.g., folio. - BOUND AFTER: Idem. Histoire des insectes de l'Europe (...). French transl. by J. Marret. Amst., J.F. Bernard 1730, 1st French ed., (4),84p., engr. frontisp. by F. OTTENS, engr. arms of the dedicatee Diego de Mendoça on dedication leaf, 184 engravings on 47 leaves, ALL IN CONTEMPORARY HANDCOLOURING.
- Los
- 3252
- Auktion
- Auction 85, 23-27 Nov 2026
- Abteilung
- OLD and RARE BOOKS
- Schätzpreis
- 70.000 € – 90.000 €
- Fotos
- 10 Fotos
Zustand
Ad 1: plate 71 has a small closed tear in blank margin; sm. annot. on recto of first free endpaper. Ad 2: Two engravings are numbered "I" and 2 engravings are numbered "LI"; further on the numbering of engravings skips "CLXX" and "CLXXII" (both as usual). Both vols. occas. trifle age-toned; lower endpaper and final blank foxed (also affecting verso of the final plate of the Dissertation). Foot of spine dam.; top of spine sl. worn/ sl. chipped; covers a few (sl.) rubbed spots.
Anmerkungen
Provenance: the library of J.W. SIX DE VROMADE (bookplate on upper pastedown), part of which, including the present work, was sold just over 101 years ago by Van Stockum in November 1925 (lot 43), and from that moment by descent to the present owner. The first edition of the first work, arguably her most famous book, was published in 1705 with 60 plates. It was the result of a stay of 22 months in Surinam of Maria Sibylle Merian and her daughter Dorothea, during which they studied the local insects and plants and made their drawings/ watercolours (on vellum). After their return to Amsterdam, Merian's elder daughter Johanna travelled to Surinam and completed the preparations for another 12 plates which were added to the 2nd Dutch edition of 1719, two years after her mother's death in 1717. These were also added to the present first French language edition of 1726. The first French translation of the second work was published in the same year as the first Dutch edition (1730). To find these two first French language editions in one volume, which is bound in the format of a large paper copy in a fine binding is quite remarkable (leaf size: 50,1x35,8 cm., binding size: 51,2x37,5 cm.). Interestingly enough, Storm van Leeuwen in his chapter on the bindings by the binder Hulst van Keulen (active between 1775-1790), refers to a binding on another work by Merian (her "caterpillar book") for which similar tools were used (see Storm van Leeuwen, vol.I, p.667). Ad 1: Pfeiffer B,5; Landwehr, Dutch Books w. Col. Plates 132; Hunt 467; Nissen, BBI 1341; Pritzel 6105; Ad 2: Pfeiffer A,8. Landwehr 137; Hunt 483; Nissen, BBI 1342. SEE ILLUSTRATIONS ON FRONTCOVER AND PLATES CX and CXI.
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